Cheadle Town 0-5 Litherland REMYCA

With Litherland REMYCA chasing Silsden down at the top of the table the "ask" was always going to be that little bit greater on this occasion; some NWCFL experts may have forseen a REMYCA win, therefore, but my God we didn't half make it easy for them.

At half-time we were still in this game by a long chalk. By the 71st minute we weren't.

A second half amalgam of mis-placed passes, easy surrender of possession and a pinch of rotten luck at times meant that REMYCA ran away with the match and then some.

And we had made a bright start with some promising forays into the REMYCA box, one as early as the first minute were Callum Collinson's whipped cross from the right caused mild panic in the REMYCA defence.

On the 9th minute Danny Whiting was called into action as he gathered a far post header following a free-kick from the left before the visitors then went ahead on the 12th minute; Colin Quirk - not for the first time at Park Road in REMYCA colours - arrowing one in from long range.

They were in again down the left on 21 minutes forcing Danny Whiting into another excellent stop before mild confusion reigned down the other end shortly afterwards; the referee had awarded a penalty whilst the linesman had given offside. Unfortunately for us the latter decision was upheld.

Just after the half-hour mark Adam Gardiner was slotted in on the right but his effort was blocked by the keeper before Danny Whiting was busy yet again down the other end, fumbling an effort from a corner and breathing a sigh of relief when it was hacked off the line just in time.

Danny's legs would save us again on the stroke of half-time.

Any hopes of us "still being in this match" were swept away in the space of 14 minutes.

On 57 minutes Colin MacDonald ploughed (the pitch had really cut up by then) his way through the middle via various attempts to stop him before rounding Whiting for an easy finish.

He was through again four minutes later but lobbed his effort wide.

Another two minutes later and REMYCA got their third thanks to that pinch of luck I referred to earlier. A long range effort was deflected out to the right to one of their players, catching our back line flat-footed, where he had all the time in the world to cross for Paul Foy to head home from close range.

Number four came on 71 minutes. As their no11 went down the right he was met by a tackle. Unfortunately it didn't quite do the job as the ricochet off his legs fell perfectly for him and he was able to continue his run on goal and finish.

Danny Whiting came up with another excellent stop to prevent a fifth on 78 minutes but couldn't do anything to stop a heavy defeat become a hammering on 86 minutes when a corner in from the right hit the back of one of our defenders and fell straight to Paul Foy who emphatically slammed home.

In between those two goals Rick Whyatt had stabbed wide after getting on the end of a Danny Wood cross.

Not the best of nights on not the best of surfaces. Again, kudos to our groundsman Phil Mottershead for getting the game on as it was touch-and-go at lunchtime thanks to small areas of standing water.

That's two consecutive home matches without scoring and still only two league wins at Park Road all season. Next up is Alsager Town.

Away. Hurrah.

TEAM: Whiting, Nield, Ratican, Trucca (Delaney), Fleming, Harrison, Collinson (Dunn), Kilheeney, Gardiner (Wood), Whyatt, C Sherrington. SUBS: Wood, Delaney, Dunn, Shaw, Allcock (gk).

Cheadle Town 0-2 New Mills

A harsh lesson in what happens when you don't take your chances.

They were at a premium throughout the whole of this, you could argue, turgid affair but when they fell to us we snatched at them, when they fell to New Mills they put them both away.

We started brightly enough and could have gone a goal ahead within the first minute. James Dunn's cross from the right almost met by Rick Whyatt but he was just beaten to it by the Millers keeper.

Four minutes later and Rick finds the ball at his feet on the edge of the area but his side-footed effort is weak and is easily gathered by the keeper.

And then that was pretty much that until the 29th minute when another gilt-edged chance came our way. A neat move saw the ball headed across the face of goal and right onto the feet of Adam Gardiner who looked set to blast home but was denied by an excellent point-blank stop.

On the stroke of half-time Rick Whyatt had another opportunity but snatched at his shot when well-positioned on the right of the area and sent it wide.

So, we had started okay but faded badly as the second half got under way, only registering one decent effort with seen minutes to go as Luke Pearson blazed over after another searching James Dunn cross from the right.

By then we were chasing the game as New Mills had nudged into a 1-0 lead thanks to Jack McConnell just before the hour mark, getting onto the end of a ball fired across the face of goal to tuck home at the far post.

Two minutes into injury time they repeated the medicine with exactly the same move; Ed Driver profiting this time to seal the points for the visitors.

And that's all there is to say about the match, to be honest. Not the best day at the office on the pitch although off it we did record a healthy crowd of 125; thank you to everybody who braved the cold to come and watch.

Onto Bacup this Thursday evening and a quick opportunity to put matters right.

TEAM: Whiting, Dunn, Pearson, Trucca (Wood), Shaw, Harrison, Ambrose, Fleming, Gardiner (Collinson), Whyatt, C Sherrington (Ratican), SUBS: Collinson, Ratican, Wood, Piggott (GK)

Cheadle Town 3-0 Cammell Laird

It was quite a day.

First of all we signed a deal that meant the future of the club is secured and then we went and put three goals past a Cammell Laird side that were doing rather well.

We hadn't kicked a ball in anger since the 1-4 home defeat to Whitchurch Alport at the start of December so we were desperate to get the game on. Kudos therefore to Phil, our groundsman, who worked very hard - in the face of some very trying weather the night before - to ensure that we had a game with which to end the calendar year.

The match itself took a full 20-odd minutes to get going.

Lairds had netted on the 14 minute mark but it was flagged offside and any forays that we were making into their box were thwarted by us being repeatedly caught offside.

And then, on 21 minutes, the breakthrough as the match suddenly woke up.

A bad clearance by the Lairds keeper was seized upon by Rick Whyattwho advanced on goal and only just managed to stick out a leg and slide it under the keeper just in time.

Three minutes later and the Lairds keeper made amends with a fantastic save, stretching out his right hand to stop Rick Whyatt's effort after he had connected with a through ball from Chris Sherrington.

Rick then threw a back-breaking shape to connect with a cross on 31 minutes only for it to be ruled offside. And that was pretty much that for the first half.

The second half started with Adam Gardiner curling an effort just inches wide of the post before Lairds then went in on the right and poked it just wide.

Then came a break in play that really seemed to upset our rhythm.

Chris Sherrington was unceremoniously upended by Lairds' no11 who received a red card for his efforts. The footballing lore of "it being harder to play against ten men" then kicked in as Lairds then threw the kitchen sink at us to try and snatch an equaliser.

The closest they came was in the 73rd minute. Not helped in the slightest by some sloppy defending from us, Danny Whiting was forced to get down low and quick to make an excellent block.

That seemed to serve as the turning point as it was Cheadle that carved out the better chances from that point forward, going on to win the match 3-0.

Adam Gardiner fizzed in a free-kick from the right on 76 minutes; all it needed was a touch!

Substitute Callum Collinson then threaded the ball through to Rick Whyatt but he couldn't dig the ball out from under his feet with James Dunn then finding himself all alone on the right of the area only to lash a tame shot straight into the keeper's arms.

As injury time loomed, we got our second thanks to substitute Collinson; seizing upon a slip by a Lairds defender on the edge of the area, he advanced on goal and slammed home the sealing goal.

There was time for one more. Collinson instrumental again, getting to the byline down the left and squaring for Rick Whyatt to tap home his second of the match with literally the last kick of the game.

Onto the Potteries we go this Saturday and an away trip to Abbey Hulton United. It's good to be playing football again after a weather-enforced hiatus.

Everybody connected with the club had a smile on their face and a spring in their step as they went about their duties today, be they on or off the pitch, as if a huge black cloud had been lifted from the club.

It felt good. And long may it continue.

TEAM: Whiting, Nield, Pearson, Trucca, Shaw, Harrison, Ambrose, Fleming, Gardiner, Whyatt, C Sherrington. SUBS: Collinson, Kilheeney, Dunn, Piggott (gk).

The Start of a New Era for Cheadle Town FC

At (approximately) 12.00noon on Saturday 30th December 2017 the course of Cheadle Town FC's future was altered.

After months and months of negotiation, meetings et al, the deal was signed by all members of the committee that meant Cheadle Town Football Club became part of the Little Sports Group. 

Craig Brennan (far left) with members of the committee after signing the deal

Ex-Cheadle Town player Craig Brennan is the CEO & Chairman of The Little Sports Group and has built a range of sports companies including children’s sports coaching, further education, junior football clubs and sports recruitment to name a few.

The benefits for the club are manyfold.

Better facilities at Park Road, a robust infrastructure, the integration of the current junior teams currently operated by the Little Sports Group and the introduction of a full-time education programme for their U18 squad- thus providing children with a direct path to a football club within the league pyramid; these are just a taste of what the future holds for Cheadle Town.

The change of ownership hasn't been without its complications, though.

You may notice that long-standing chairman Chris Davies is absent from the above picture.

The decision to make the change was voted-in as a majority back in mid-December. As a result of that Chris decided to resign with immediate effect, a decision which has disappointed and baffled the committee.

The club has a new custodian and its future is secure, something we honestly could not have declared if things hadn't have changed.

Exciting times lie ahead. We look forward to working with Craig and his Little Sports Group and watching the club evolve.

Craig (far left) with our current management team

Craig had the following to say:

“Cheadle Town is a club with a rich history, amazing staff & volunteers and so much potential. Today the hard work starts to take this club on the journey it deserves. After the performance today [3-0 win over Cammell Laird] I am confident we can have a strong finish to the season.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the committee, staff and volunteers for keeping the club going in a difficult few years, they have done an amazing job with very few resources! Now we move forward”

A Christmas Message

Before we go any further, all of the players, coaching staff and committee members at Cheadle Town FC would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Have a wonderful time with your friends and family and we hope Santa (of course he exists) brings you everything you wanted.

On a more serious note we'd like to reflect on the year that is about to check out and look forward to the one forthcoming.

The Stockport DFA Cup: all tucked up...and ours back in May

On the pitch it started with a fairly decent run of form (only one defeat in seven league matches), then a slump, and then a barnstorming finish to the 2016-17 season that saw five consecutive victories for our First XI and two cup finals for our Reserves, one of which would be fruitful as they defeated AFC Macclesfield 2-1 to pick up the Stockport DFA Cup.

Come the Presentation & Awards Evening in May all looked rosy and the mood was buoyant to say the least.

But then matters off the pitch intervened and the roof fell in.

A much-lauded trip to China fell through towards the end of May, the repercussions of which were fairly immediate and arguably were still being felt towards the end of the year.

Key players left, as did First Team Manager Terry Hincks and certain members of the committee were, to put it mildly, unhappy. Without divulging any further details, what was a steady ship had started to list severely in a short space of time.

By the time the new 2017-18 season started in August matters had been sorted. New First Team Manager Antony Trucca had done a sterling job of restructuring the squad and coaching setup, going on to make a half-decent start to the season with impressive wins at Oswestry Town and Sandbach United with us still in the First Division Trophy competition at the time of writing.

2018 will bring change for the club. No empty promises any more.

The club will evolve, will strengthen and will finally move its feet that have been stuck in the mud for far too long.

'Mon the Cheadle.

#CTFCv2

Stockport Town 2-2 Cheadle Town

So here it was. On a bitterly cold (and occasionally wet) Monday evening in Woodley, the game of the century. Massive. Huge. A "derby" to end all derbies. The result upon which your children's lives depended.

Okay, maybe that last bit is a bit far-fetched but the pre-match hyperbole was allowed to roam free yet again for a match where only three points were at stake. Nothing more, nothing less.

And even then those points ended up being shared, with the hosts being much happier with theirs than we were with ours.

Now that the dust has settled we can't help feeling that we somewhat let our hosts off the hook.

With their keeper sent off early in the second half and having to resort to putting an outfield player in there as a replacement, our siege on their goal didn't produce the win that it could have done.

We went into half-time a goal down after one of the seven ex-Cheadle Town players that our hosts had on their roster for the night had put them into an early lead: Justin Pickering bundling home from close range after Aaron Dwyer had drilled a low cross in from the right.

That was after just four minutes but there had been an effort for either side by then.

Danny Whiting had to make a good save with our hosts' first attack of the match with Rick Whyatt then being gifted a poor clearance by the keeper, only for him to snatch at his shot and send it hopelessly wide.

Our hosts arguably had slightly the better of the first half. Danny Whiting had to tip an awkward shot over the bar, Justin Pickering and Aaron Dwyer both lifted half-decent chances over the bar with Pickering then being sent through on goal on the stroke of half-time but quick-thinking on Danny Whiting's part forcing him wide.

Before the brouhaha of the sending off on the 50th minute Rick Whyatt had somehow planted an effort over from a yard out and Dwyer lashed a shot just wide down at the other end.

Rick Whyatt got a better chance on goal in that 50th minute but was completely taken out by the keeper when through on goal. Double jeopardy kicked in, off he went and a penalty was awarded which Chris Sherrington stroked home to bring us level.

Cue the siege.

Chris Sherrington couldn't quite get himself onto the end of a searching cross on 65 minutes with a Collinson header drifting just wide of the post five minutes later.

On 75 minutes, the sucker punch. Ex-Cheadle player Aaron Dwyer - who had caused us problems all night - clipping in a well-measured shot over Whiting to give the hosts an unexpected lead. 

Two minutes later it should have been level again. Substitute Adam Gardiner was clean through on goal but didn't quite get enough meat on the shot, allowing our hosts' makeshift keeper to make a block.

Rick Whyatt then headed over from close range, Chris Sherrington blasted over from the edge of the area as a corner fell to him with George Clarey then heading home only for it to be called offside.

With three minutes to go, we finally levelled it up. Adam Gardiner was through on goal once again, in exactly the same position as before but with a more productive result this time around as he poked the ball past the onrushing keeper.

And that was to be it in terms of chances, even despite there being seven minutes of added time.

As it transpired at the end of the match our very own Tom Ratican had to be taken to A&E as a precautionary measure due to suspected concussion. This was confirmed and he will be out for a week, but we're glad to say that he is back home with his feet up and resting.

Onto this weekend and, weather permitting, we welcome Whitchurch Alport to Park Road.

TEAM: Whiting, Nield, Ratican (Clarey), Trucca, Shaw, Harrison, Collinson, Fleming, Ambrose (Gardiner), Whyatt, C Sherrington. SUBS: Clarey, Gardiner, Plumb, Piggott (GK)

Cheadle Town 2-1 Alsager Town

First of all, a tip of the hat.

To our groundsman Phil for managing to ensure that we had a playable pitch. To use the racing vernacular the going was soft even before a ball was kicked and, given the light rain we had during the day, he did an admirable job.

Also to the two teams who, in such soft conditions (that gradually worsened and were definitely in the heavy category by the end of the match), got on with the job in hand and provided us with a half-decent cup tie.

The first shot across the bows came from us in the 4th minute. Aaron Fleming, reprising his role in midfield from the weekend, threaded a perfect ball through to Jake Ambrose whose first-time effort was matched by an excellent stop by the Alsager keeper.

On 12 minutes the deadlock was broken. Chris Sherrington drilled a cross in from the left that an Alsager defender tried to clear but, the surface being as it was, he slipped slightly and only managed to heel the ball straight into the path of the onrushing Rick Whyatt who blasted home.

Alsager then rallied, firing over after a neat one-two on the edge of the area and then forcing a good stop from Danny Whiting before Jake Ambrose then headed over a Sherrington corner from close range.

On 35 minutes we should have been 2-0 up. The Alsager keeper sent a terrible clearance straight to Jake Ambrose who could have had a go on goal himself. He didn't, instead opting to square the ball to Rick Whyatt who also didn't shoot with him then passing back to Jake. This moment of Chuckle Brother-esque to me to you nonsense gave the Alsager defence plenty of time to recover and hack the ball to safety. 

An opening 25 minutes of the second half where very little happened other than a few yellow cards was broken by an Alsager snap shot whistling just wide before we were reduced to ten men when Aaron Fleming collected his second yellow card. 

On 77 minutes enter Callum Collinson from the substitute bench. Already with an assist to his name from the bench at Nelson on Saturday, it only took him two minutes to go one better with a goal, seizing upon Alsager's failed attempts to clear their lines and rifling home with an angled drive from the right of the box.

The numbers of the pitch were evened up on 84 minutes when ex-Cheadle midfielder Matt German also picked up his second yellow card with our two-goal advantage then halved as stoppage time approached; a stonewall penalty cracked home by Alsager's Kyle Stubbs.

Having been out-to-lunch all season our home form is starting to pick up; the last two matches have seen victories (albeit both were in cup competitions but it would be terribly churlish to complain, right?) 

And so onto this weekend where the Park Road surface hosts once again. Phil is going to have to work his magic once more.

TEAM: Whiting, Turgeon, Ratican, Trucca (Delaney), Pearson, Harrison, Clarey (Collinson), Fleming, Ambrose (Gardiner), Whyatt, C Sherrington. SUBS: Delaney, Collinson, Gardiner, Lawson, Plumb.

Nelson 1-2 Cheadle Town

The return of the away wins. Hallelujah. After the past two trips where we failed to score in either this win was like finding your comfort blanket again.

We arguably had the better of the first half and Chris Sherrington's teasing cross in from the left in what was the first action of the match laid down a marker.

On the 16th minute we crafted our first decent chance when James Dunn drove into the area on the right and put his effort just wide.

Chris Sherrington and Rick Whyatt had long-range efforts easily stopped before the latter was then put through just before the half-hour mark only for him to stab his effort wide.

Another of those teasing crosses from Chris Sherrington presented Jake Ambrose with a chance on a plate soon afterwards but he miscued his effort and it squirmed harmlessly wide.

On the 39th minute we finally got the breakthrough with a well-worked goal. A throw-in from the left found Aaron Fleming who drove into the area, picked out the unmarked Ton Ratican on the right for him to pick his spot with a cool finish.

Nelson only had one clear-cut chance to their name in the first half and it was thanks to Danny Whiting's excellent stop in the 18th minute that the hosts went into the break with nothing to show.

Just four minutes into the second half, though, the match was level.

A long ball through our middle caused a little bit of hesitancy in our back line with Danny Whiting forced to come out and win a one-on-one with Nelson's David Patrick. He did just that...but ended up booting his clearance off Patrick's legs and was helpless as the rebound rolled into the net. Not the first comical goal we have conceded to Nelson this season.

Up the other end Jake Ambrose's good footwork on the edge of the area got himself into a decent shooting position but his effort was blocked with him then seizing on a poor clearance from the keeper and squaring for Rick Whyatt, but that effort was saved and all.

Nelson's Joseph Rodriguez then curled an effort inches wide of the post before they then had two really good chances to take the lead as they put the pressure on.

On 74 minutes David Patrick suddenly found himself clean through on goal but Danny Whiting was clever enough to shepherd him wide, forcing Patrick to spoon an effort past the post. Then with just nine minutes remaining Ross Knight connected with a cross and looked set to score but he poked his shot wide.

A second half that could have gone either way went that of the green-and-black with seven minutes remaining. Substitute Callum Collinson's cross from the right finding Rick Whyatt in the box for a thumping finish from close range.

Two minutes later Danny Whiting pulled off another great stop from close range before the final act of the match would see a Tom Russell drive tipped over the bar.

Our next two matches are at Park Road. We entertain Alsager Town in the Macron League Cup 2nd Round this Wednesday evening and then we welcome Bacup Borough this Saturday where another three points are at stake.

TEAM: Whiting, Dunn, Pearson, Trucca, Shaw (Russell), Harrison, Ratican, Fleming, Ambrose (Clarey), Whyatt, C Sherrington (Collinson). SUBS: Russell, Collinson, Clarey, Piggott (gk) 

Chadderton 2-0 Cheadle Town

Are you a "glass half-full" or "half-empty" kind of person?

Half-full? Then our form isn't too bad. If you're counting all competitions then it's three wins in the last six.

Half-empty? As far as league form is concerned it's one win in the last seven and this was our first league defeat at Andrew Street since the 2011-12 season.

Your outlook on life also determines how you viewed our performance in this defeat. The "fulls" will be citing our bad luck - we struck the woodwork twice - whilst the "emptys" will point to the fact that our keeper Danny Whiting was Chadderton's choice for Man of the Match and the scoreline could have been a lot worse on a different day.

The scoreline at half-time was 1-0 to Chadderton and came as a result of us never really "getting going" in that first 45 minutes.

Our only foray into the Chadderton box came in the 5th minute when Rick Whyatt's cross from the right looked on a plate for George Clarey but he couldn't finish.

From then on it was the hosts who had the better of it. Danny Whiting came out bravely to deny their no11 Leon Illuobe on the quarter-hour mark with Joe Shaw then heading off the line after they had been granted a free shot at the far post from a corner.

The deadlock was broken just before the half-hour and in slightly farcical circumstances from our defence's point of view as a throw-in from the right was inadvertently headed across the face of our own goal, straight into the path of an unmarked Jordan Matthew who had time to take a touch and slam home.

Their no9 Matthew Buckley then curled an effort inches wide before Danny Whiting made an incredible one-handed save to deny a close-range header just before half-time.

A different half, a different - better - Cheadle.

Rick Whyatt and Adam Gardiner combined to provide George Clarey with a chance but he was denied by a close-range save with Antony Trucca's header cleared off the line from the resulting corner.

Rick Whyatt then had a chance of his own on 57 minutes as he was sent clear on the right but he too had his effort saved.

After a short break to allow for a dog that had decided to join in on the pitch Jake Ambrose headed an Adam Gardiner free-kick over the bar with the action then straight down the other end as Danny Whiting got his hand to an effort with Joe Shaw mopping up the loose ball and hacking off the line.

And straight after that Jake Ambrose laid off for Tom Russell to ping one from the edge of the area, only to see it skim off the top of the crossbar.

As the match entered its final ten minutes Danny Whiting was busy again, coming out to punch a long throw clear and then having to beat away the second effort that came his way.

With five minutes left on the clock Chadderton extended their lead and sealed the points.

From our corner Chadderton broke downfield, lost possession and then - thanks to our carelessness - regained it again, feeding Matthew Buckley down the left who forced Danny Whiting into a good stop only for him to tap in the rebound.

Next up is a trip to struggling Nelson whose only victory this season has come against us! Chance for revenge and to arrest the slump in league form.

TEAM: Whiting, Dunn, Ratican, Trucca, Shaw, Harrison (Delaney), Ambrose, Russell (Plumb), Gardiner (Plumb), Whyatt, Clarey. SUBS: Delaney, Piggott (gk), Cotton, Plumb.

Cheadle Town 3-1 Abbey Hulton United

Given our home form this season the quip of late has been "can we play away from home every week". There should now be the addendum "if we have to play at home, can we play Abbey Hulton?"

Only two wins at home all season and both against Abbey Hulton; they'll be sick of the sight of Park Road and will be mighty glad they won't have to visit again this season.

Four goals, yes, but not a classic as it was all a bit stop-start at times. Both sides engaging in a dolly mixture of very good and downright frustrating passages of play, resulting in what could be best described as a "functional" win for us.

If you had some of your hard-earned money on us scoring in the first and last 25 seconds of the first half then enjoy your winnings. What would have been the odds on that!?

Mssrs Chris Sherrington and Adam Gardiner were the ones that bookended the first half. The former bundling home after 25 seconds following a right-wing cross from Jake Ambrose and the latter with a wonderful header from a James Dunn cross just as the referee was about to blow for half-time.

In between lay a half where we arguably should have built up a more commanding lead.

Adam Gardiner almost made it 2-0 on the 11th minute when he was put through on the right but his clipped shot over the keeper was cleared off the line at the last.

Five minutes later Tom Russell sent Tom Ratican clear down the left but he shot straight at the keeper.

Abbey Hulton had caught us napping from a corner on 20 minutes from which Danny Whiting had to make a clever palm over the crossbar with the visitors then levelling a minute later; we lost possession in midfield and the ball was worked down the right and in-field, ending up at the feet of Dylan Bath who rifled home.

Straight down the other end Jake Ambrose almost uprooted the post when he got onto the end of a Chris Sherrington cross with Daniel Whiting to our rescue again, palming away a close-range effort.

A minute into the second half and Adam Gardiner had a great chance to make it 3-1, being put through the middle and managing to poke it past the keeper but being thwarted by an Abbey Hulton defender.

On the hour, he would get a better chance as we were awarded a penalty. He took it, stroking the spot kick home to give us a bit of breathing space.

Daniel Whiting was called into action again on the 75th minute, pushing a well-struck free-kick around the post before jake Ambrose was gifted a chance to put the tie out of sight, latching onto a poor kick-out from the keeper but only giving it him back with a poor shot.

Rick Whyatt then somehow managing to block a James Dunn shot off the line was the pinnacle of the frustrating moments of the match, but by then we were 3-1 up and any threat that Abbey Hulton was presenting seemed to have long gone.

So, down to the last eight we go and a trip to Eccleshall or Sandbach United awaits in the new year. 

TEAM: Whiting, Ratican, Dunn, Trucca, Shaw, Harrison, Ambrose, Russell (Delaney), Gardiner (Cotton), Whyatt, C Sherrington (Clarey). SUBS: Wood, Clarey, Delaney, Cotton, Piggott (gk)

Cheadle Town 1-8 Stockport County

Shortly before the match, the official Cheadle Town FC Twitter account received a mention from a County fan informing us that we would be on the end of a heavy defeat...or that we would be, to use his vernacular, "pied".

He'll be pleased that his team didn't disappoint.

Nine goals shared, albeit the lion's portion - and then some - went the way of our close neighbours from the National League North as their chosen blend of youngsters and First XI fringe players ran riot.

An indication of the size of the task was evident early on. County pinged a shot inches wide of Danny Whiting's post with barely a minute on the clock with Danny then having to claw an awkward cross onto the crossbar moments later.

On the 16th minute they got their first of the evening when a ball across the face of goal wasn't cleared, finding the very useful Bohan Dixon on the edge of the area to drill home.

On the 25th minute they got their second. A "route one" ball was met by both County's Adam Thomas and our Danny Whiting, with the former winning the race, knocking it past Danny and tapping into an empty net.

Mr Thomas got his second of the match - and County's third - five minutes later. He was left unattended on the edge of the box following a corner and he belted home.

Remeece Brown curled a shot just wide on 35 minutes before an action-packed remaining three minutes of the half would see a further three goals.

Dixon got his second for County after he leathered home a cross to make it 0-4 before we got ourselves on the card straight from the restart; great work by Remeece Brown down the left saw him square it for Jake Ambrose who took his time and picked his spot.

From the restart, 1-5 to County. Yet again we left a player unattended on the edge of the box from a corner: Harry Brazel the benefactor this time around, stroking home into the far corner.

We had a great opportunity to reduce arrears in the opening moments of the second half but County's custodian Ian Ormson did well to tip Joe Shaw's header over the bar.

In the 50th minute County stretched their lead when Dixon bagged his hat-trick with a superb first-time finish from a whipped-in ball from the left.

Remeece Brown curled another effort just wide of a post once more and Danny Whiting made an excellent save to tip a fierce drive over the bar before County's substitute Jordan Peach came on and gave us more headaches, being instrumental in County's last two goals thanks to his pace.

His crosses from the right were swept home by Mssrs West and Czubik on 69 and 81 minutes respectively, shifting the scoreline from a heavy defeat to the "pie" canon.

Our chance to get a second came towards the end on a counter-attack. Neat footwork by Adam Gardiner put him in a decent position on the right of the box, with his clever backheel finding Liam Delaney who looked set to score. However, he took one touch too many, giving the County defence the chance to clear. 

Many, many thanks to all of the Stockport County fans who turned up on this chilly November Wednesday evening and boosted the gate to a healthy 410 and all the best for the rest of the season and the Cheshire Senior Cup.

For us, it's a chance to lick the wounds and look forward to league matters once more this weekend as a trip to Whitchurch Alport beckons. 

TEAM: Whiting, Dunn, C Sherrington, Trucca (Russell), Shaw, Harrison, Clarey, Wood, Ambrose (Gardiner), Whyatt, Brown (Delaney). SUBS: Gardiner, Brocklehurst, Russell, Delaney, Piggott (gk).

Arrangements for Cheshire Senior Cup Tie v Stockport County

This Wednesday evening sees us host our illustrious neighbours Stockport County in the Preliminary Round of the Cheshire Senior Cup.

As a result, we are expecting a much bigger attendance than usual.

In order to keep the level of disruption for the Park Road residents to a minimum and to ensure easy entrance and egress for both emergency services and spectators, we have alternative parking arrangements in place.

Please note that parking at the stadium and on Park Road itself will only be available for officials and players. There will be no parking available for spectators.

You are encouraged to use public transport if possible. Details of buses etc can be found on this page

Parking will be available on surrounding roads. We strongly recommend using Brookfield Road (accessed via Councillor Lane and Demmings Road - see map below) and then using the public footpath down towards the stadium.

 

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The clubhouse will be open for hot and cold drinks and there will be an extra counter opened for hot and cold snacks.